Celebrating Art in Life Workshops

Celebrating Art in Life, is a 3-week UMY series, offering an opportunity for you to choose one of the for following art forms to explore: photography, songwriting, creative writing and art. Our hope is this series will provide a space for you to discover and nurture your artistic self, all the while growing close to the awesome Creator of all things beautiful. Hamilton UMC youth will join us for our Celebrating Art in Life workshops.

Invite your friends to share in this great opportunity to learn from professional artists in our community who love and are great at their craft. There is a place of you to sign-up friends on the registration form. A few youth from Hamilton UMC will be joining us. You are also encouraged to create art & crafts (record bowls, jewelry, pottery, sculptures, toys for children, etc.) over the next two months to display and sale. The Youth Ministry Council decided at the January meeting that all donations for our offerings will go towards supporting the following non-profit organizations: Brighter Days Tutoring Program, Oasis Center for Runaway Teens and Invisible Children Schools for Schools program.




What We're Offering

Create Your Heart Out: Painting/Drawing with Mary Beth Franklin- We'll be making with our hands pieces we can enjoy with our eyes. Whether we are painting, drawing or a little of both, you will spend 3-weeks with a local artist creating something you can offer for Arts in the Village. All experience levels are welcome, come ready to get your hands dirty and paper beautiful.



The Art of Seeing: Photography with Mike DuBose- Come join us as we explore, through photography, the joy, beauty and hope we glimpse in the lives of children.
Bring any pictures of children that you’d like to share with the group and bring your camera (film or digital) if you have one.
Prerequisites: an open mind and a generous spirit.
Workshop Leader: Mike DuBose is a photographer for United Methodist Communication. He has traveled all over the world exploring  God’s creation through photography, capturing moments that inspire, compel and offer a glimpse of hope. He holds degrees in journalism and photography and worked as a daily newspaper photographer for over a decade prior to working for the church.

Music & Lyrics: Songwriting with Steve Dean– We’ll be crafting songs and lyrics which seek to explore the world around us as well as the thoughts and questions we hold inside.
Workshop Leader: Steve Dean, a songwriter with several number one hits and writer awards to his name, also performs his music in shows around the country. His songs have been recorded by such artists as George Strait, Reba McEntire, Alabama, Dierks Bentley and Billy Dean.



Wholehearted Listening: Creative Writing with Josh Tinley- A relaxed atmosphere where writers will engage in exercises and share their work with friends. Any type of writing is welcomed as well as any experience level. Bring paper, pen or pencil, previous writing and hearts full of your creative juices.
Workshop Leader: Josh Tinley is an editor of youth resources for The United Methodist Publishing House where he develops, edits, and writes curriculum (and sits in meetings). Josh has also written articles for the Nashville Scene, the Journal of Student Ministries, the United Methodist News Service, as well as other publications. Several drafts of short stories and chunks of would-be novels are stored on his hard drive,